Verstappen vows to race past 40th birthday to match Hamilton

Winner Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) and third-placed Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrate on the podium with champagne after the Portuguese Formula One Grand Prix at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on October 25, 2020 in Portimao. (Photo by RUDY CAREZZEVOLI / POOL / AFP)

Max Verstappen said he will race on beyond his 40th birthday in a bid to match Lewis Hamilton’s records after finishing third behind him in Sunday’s Portuguese Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old Red Bull driver, widely seen to be a future champion, said he was motivated by the six-time champion Englishman’s feats and would bid to match them.

“Lewis was just saying he keeps pushing because he wants to set it (the level) very high so I have to work hard to try and get there,” said Verstappen.

“It’s amazing. What can you say? It’s an incredible, incredible achievement – 92 victories – and I don’t think it stops there. It will go well over 100.

“So, he’s pushing me to go until I’m 40 years old or something, but that’s good. It’s a good motivation as well.”